Important Changes For 2012
No Breakfast Friday, April 6th!
Happy new year to all! Due to the low attendance in our 2011 monthly meetings, we have decided to make some changes. Before I get into the details, here’s the bottom line. WE ARE NO LONGER HAVING OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS!! WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE OUR WEEKLY FRIDAY MORNING BREAKFAST!!!”
Those of you that know me will not be surprised that I’m just going to tell it like it is; and yes, with some attitude. It has been discouraging to spend hours working on a presentation only to find that a handful of people came to listen. It takes time to prepare a before and after slideshow and profit/loss flow sheets on our latest rehab or rental project. We always presented real projects by the way. Not “for instance” scenarios or inflated pie-in-the-sky “you too can do this at home without ever getting out of bed” fluff that is used to sell books. Real projects that you were often invited to go out and observe first hand. Projects that would net approximately half a years salary for the average person.
It’s no fun scouring through Chapter 42 looking for clauses that may cost you big money if you do not know. If you don’t know what Chapter 42 is, then you absolutely should’ve attended more meetings. It’s boring for us to present property analysis worksheets for the benefit of others when we have long been at the point that we do this stuff in our head and can make offers on the spot. Lease purchase, leverage, zoning, and on and on. But we did…. for several years. For free. Never once have you heard Reiner, Angus, or me… ask you to invest in one of our projects or offer to sell you anything.
Could we have done better? Sure. But it wasn’t bad for a nonpaying gig. At a minimum we offered an open forum to discuss your objectives and help in any way we could. I guess the last straw for me was wondering down the hall and finding some multilevel marketing scheme being presented to a packed room. I compare that stuff to junk bonds and pumping penny stocks. Meanwhile, down in our room, where we are offering the true blue-chip investment-grade information, there are only eight or 10 people in attendance. And most of them knew as much or more as whoever happened to be speaking. Yet they were there; knowing it would be worthwhile if they could pick up just one additional tidbit to add to their business model. Ponder that last sentence for a moment. That’s all the insight you need as to why some people are so much more successful than others.
Anyway, the breakfast meetings will continue, mostly in its present unstructured state. However, from time to time, we may actually turn it into a more formal meeting if the need arises. Some of the key players may even offer personal mentoring or in-depth seminars for a fee. Why? Well aside from the obvious, apparently free just isn’t a bargain.
Reiner and I would also like to thank all those that gave their time so generously to help us. Angus Reed, Pat Small, Marshall Trawick, and many others. The Association is not ending. But for the time being, it is changing forms. My personal thanks to every single person that has taken the time to share their insights with me. Robert Clifton, VP.
“The Piedmont Triad Real Estate Investors Association”
PTREIA is a place where both the novice and experienced Real Estate Investors can learn all aspects of investing in Real Estate in a friendly environment. Come and meet with us to learn, exchange ideas and keep your entrepreneurial spirit going.
All upcoming meeting topics are now listed under the Blog’s Speaker category where everyone is invited to comment on what they learned or leave questions for the group.
This is a professional organization with opportunities for education and networking. We ask that everyone follow our Code of Ethics.
You do not have to be a “member” to join us at any of our meetings.
Everyone is welcome!
